ELIGIBILITY is the “key criteria” for council-funded day care options expected to be approved by Herefordshire Council’s cabinet today (Thursday).

Cabinet will this afternoon debate the commissioning of day opportunities for adult social care, with accessibility based on assessments of eligibility.

A report put to cabinet recommends that the director for adult wellbeing be authorised to proceed to invitation to tender for day opportunities based on a number of principles.

Should proposals be approved, both existing and potential service users will be assessed for eligible needs based on the Herefordshire Fair Access to Care policy.

As a result of that assessment, an indicative budget would be identified for each service user and plans to meet their needs using this budget put in place.

For those who are not eligible or have their needs met through another service, the opportunities will still be available but will come at a cost.

Adults with complex care requirements will be provided with buildings or “hub-based activity” in the specification for day opportunities while the numbers of and location of these buildings will be determined after the new provider has been identified.

It will mean community-based opportunities for people likely to have lower-level care and support requirements, removing the current day care provision.

The plan does contain a commitment to continue consulting with service users, staff and suppliers to ensure a "good level of understanding" of the reasons for the council’s approach.

That includes addressing concerns where possible and to fulfil the council’s duty to undertake “meaningful” consultation.

The report is the “next step” following cabinet’s decision to approve the commissioning of the day opportunities service as part of the new adult social care model back in July.